Work-guiding attachment for sewing machines



8- 6, J. E. ACKERMAN 2210,647

WORK-GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Fiied April 8, 19:58 3 Sheets -Sheet 1 A. v gag Jana/es lfvyeei-mang I a M g- 1940- J; E. ACKERMAN 2.210.647

WORK-GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES File d April 8, 1938 a Sheets-Sheet 2 c/ames E c/geefiman Aug. 6, 1940. J. E. ACKERMAN 2.210.6 7

WORK-GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filpd April a, 19:59 a sheets-skied 5 James l? ufcerman Patented Aug. 6, 1940 I UNITED STATES worm-GUIDING ATTACHMENT- Foa'- SEWING MACHINES James E. Ackerman, Devon, Conn" asslgnor' to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application April 8, 1938, Serial No. 200,844 9 Claims. (01. 11 -143) This invention relates 'to improvements in workguidingattachments for use with sewing ma chines and more particularly in edge-folding and liemming devices, the present improvement being in the nature of an improvement in the hemj ming attachment disclosed in the United States patent of A. Laubscher, No. 856,166, dated June 4, 1907. v

The invention has forits primary object to facilitate the production *of endless edge-folds and hems in sheet materials and to this'end the folder is made in separable complemental sections which are so arranged that they may be quickly and conveniently opened for the completing of the stitching operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved supporting means for the movable section of a two-part work-guidin attachment, which supporting means is so designed that the movable section of the 'attachment may beshifted into either operative or retracted position readily without the necessity of releasing any latching device or securing means. The foregoing and other objects and advantagespin view, together with means whereby the same may be carried mm effect, will best-be understood from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary front elevation of a hemstitching machine and of a hemmer 11111 its operative position as applied to the mation of the bed-plate of the machine and illustrates the hemmer in its operative position and, also in dotted lines, the position of the movable,

section of the hemmer in its opened-out or .re-

tracted position, the presser-foot of the machine being shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the hemmer, takemsubstantially on the line 3-3, Fig; 2. Fig. 4 representsa detail view in top plan of a portion of the shiftable hemmer-section carrierami Fig. 5 represents a cross-section of the hemmer adjacent the delivery end thereof.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a folded and hemstitched piece of material.

Fig. '7 represents a plan view of a. hemmer which is a modification of that disclosed in the previous figures. v

Fig. 8 represents a, front elevation of the hem- .3 mar disclosed in Fig. '1, illustrating in full lines a scroll-section Fig. 2 represents a sectional plan view of a porthe hemmer in its operative position and, in dotted lines, the position of the movable section of the hemmer in its opened-out or retracted position. 2 Fig. 9 represents an enlarged fragmentary view '5 taken substantially along the line 9-9; Fig. '1.

Referring to the drawings, thehemming attachment is shown as applied to a well known. type'of hemstitching machine, such as that forming the subject of the U. S. patent to G. M. Eames et al., No, 1,721,072, dated July 16, 1929. Briefly, that. portion of the hemstitching machine disclosed in Fig. 1 comprises a work -support l and an overhanging head 2 in which is journaled for vertical reciprocation the conventional needle- 15 bar 3 carrying needles 4 at its lower end. The needle-bar 3 and needles 4 are actuated in the usual manner by mechanism (not shown) within the head 2.

' The attachment illustrated in the first five figures of the accompanying drawings comprises a base-plate 5 pivotally supported by a fulcrumstud 6 and bee-hive'spring 1 upon the work-support I and held in operative postion by a locating pin 8, which enters a locating aperture 9 in the work-support I. Mounted upon the base-plate 5 is a scroll-supporting plate I0 provided with an elongated. aperture li'- partially covered by a washer l2 thr'opgh which extend clamping screws l3 threaded preferably into two of a. series-of apertures i4 provided inthe base-plate 5. The supporting-plate l0 has fixed thereto at one end l5 having integrally formed therewith an apron l6 overlying'the base-plate 5.

Cooperating with, the fixed scroll-section I5 is 35 a movable or retractible complemental scroll-section lI sustained by an angularly arranged carrier-arm l8 slidably mounted in a guideway I9 formed in a block 20 fastened, preferably by screws 2|, upon thescroll-supporting plate Ill. 40 To limit endwise movement of the carrier-arm l8, the latter is preferably formed with an elongated .slot 22 adapted to be entered by a stop-pin 23 disposed in an aperture 24 provided in the block 20.

Av suitable cover-plate 25 is fastened, preferably 5 by screws 26,-upon the block 20, thereby to prevent the carrier-arm It from being displaced vertically out of the guideway l9.

As will be observed from Fig. 4, the guideway i9 is so formed at l9 as to provide clearance for 50 the carrier-arm it when the movable scroll-section I1 is in its opened-out position. It will be Y seen in Fig. 2 that the free end of the carrierarm I8 is inclined, as at 21, and rounded, as at 28, in order that the movable scroll-section ll may be shifted into retracted position. In order to maintain the movable scroll-section H in either operative or opened-out position, a coil-spring 29 is employed which acts between the carrier-arm l8 and the cover-plate 25. When the scroll-section I1 is in operative position, see Figs. 2: and 4, the coil-spring 29 urges the closed end 22 of the slot 22 in the carrier-arm I8 into contact with the stop-pin 23, while, when the scroll-section ll is in opened-out position, the coil-spring 29 because of its toggle action urges the inclined end 21 of the carrier-arm l8 into contact with one side-wall of the guideway I9, thereby holding the scroll-section I! in retracted position. It should be understood that because of the inclination of the carrier-arm l8 with-respect to the direction of the normal path of feed of the material through the attachment, the work as it is fed through the machine tends to maintain the complemental scroll-sections l and I! in cooperative relation.

' When it is desired to move the scroll-section ll into retracted position to facilitate the completion of endless edge-folds or hems, it is only necessary to withdraw the' scroll-section I! in a direction along the axis of the guideway l9 until the end 22" of the slot 22 engages the stop-pin 23,

I whence the scroll-section and its carrier-arm are swung in a counter-clockwise direction into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position it is maintained by the coil-spring 29. To return the scroll-section ll to operative position, it is required only to move the scrollsection a short distance in a clockwise direction, the coil-spring 29 then functioning to complete the return of the scroll-section.

Referring now to the modification disclosed in'Figs. '7, 8 and 9, the attachment'illustrated therein comprises a base-plate 30 upon which is supported for lateral adjustment a scroll-supporting plate 3|. As in the previously described attachment, the supporting-plate 3| sustains at one end a scroll-section. 32 having preferably formed therewith an apron 33. Cooperating with the fixed scroll section 32 is an overhanging complemental movable scroll-section 34 sustained by a carrier-arm 35 endwise slidably mounted in a guideway 36 formed in a block 31 secured, preferably by screws 38, upon the supporting-plate 3|. The carrier-arm 35 is slotted, as at '39, and this slot is entered by a stop-pin 40 extending upwardly froma plate .4! secured to. the bottom of the supporting-plate 3|. As in the previously described attachment, the stop-pin 40 functions to limit endwise movement'of the carrier-arm 35 in' the guideway 36.

i ,To enable the movable scroll-section 34 .to be shifted into the position illustrated in dotted .lines in Fig. 8, the bottom surface of the guideway 36, in the vicinity of the inner end thereof, has been cut away as indicated at 42. 9 it will be seen that this cut-out portion pro- .VidGS clearance for the end of the, carrier-arm 35 and permits the latter to be tilted when it is in its extreme left-hand position, thereby to enable the scroll-section 34 to be moved vertically into retracted position to facilitate the completion of the endless hemming operation. 'As seen in Figs.

8 and 9, the 'plate 4| at one endjs formed. with an-upstanding' lip 43 which provides a stop against which the endof the carrier-arm 351s yielding ly maintained by the coil-spring 44 when i the movable scroll-section is in retracted posi-" tion.

From the above description of the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that an important From Fig wardly with respect to the direction of the normal path of feed of the material through the attachment. This arrangement has the advantage that it eliminates any requirement for positively latching the movable scroll-section in hem-folding position, thereby facilitating manual shifting of the movable scroll-section. In addition, the inclination of the carrier-arm enables the work, as it is 'fed through the attachment, to urge the movable scroll-section into normal cooperative relationship with the fixed scroll-section. Also, the movable scroll-section is held against movement in a direction parallel with the line of seamformation by the sidewalls of the guideway when the movable scroll-section is in operative posi-, tion, which permits the operator to shift the starting end of the material to be hemmed back and forth in the attachment in the direction of feed soas to properly position the material in the attachment and correctly aline it with the needle.

Each of the attachments herein described is adapted toproduce the hem-fold illustrated in Fig. 6, the inturned raw edge E of the material M being secured by a single line of conventional the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of vention, what I claim herein is:

'1. A work-guiding attachment for sewing machines comprising complemental stationary and 1 movable'work-guiding scroll-sections, and means for supporting said movable scroll-section .for Withdrawal from said fixed scroll-section in a direction inclined with respect to the direction of the normal path of feed of thematerial through the attachment.

2. A work-guiding attachment for-sewing machines comprising complemental stationary and movable work-guiding scroll-sections, said movable scroll-section having an operative and a retracted position, a carrier-arm supporting said movable scro1l-section,a guideway in which said carrier-arm is slidably received, said guideway being inclined with respect to the direction of the normal path of feed of the material through the attachment, and means for maintaining said movable work-guiding scroll-section in operative or retracted position.

'3. A work-guiding attachment for sewing machines comprising complemental stationary andmovable work-guiding scroll-sections, said mov'. able scroll-section having an operative and a retracted position, a carrier-arm supporting said movable scroll-section, a guideway in which said carrier-arm is slidably-received, said guideway being inclined with respect to the direction of the normal path of feed of the material through the attachment, means for limiting movement of said carrier-arm in said guideway, and means for maintaining said movable work-guiding scrollsection in operative'or retracted position.

- 4. A work-guiding attachment for sewing machines comprisinga supporting plate provided with a guideway inclined with respect to the direction'of the normal pathof feed of the material through the attachment, a stationary work-guiding a carrier-arm ing scroll-section carried by said plate, a complemental movable work-guiding scroll-sectionhaving an operativeand a retracted position, a carrier-arm adapted to support said movable scrollsection and slidably mounted in said guideway,

and means for limiting movement of said carrier-arm in said guideway.

5. A work-guiding attachment for sewing machines having complemental stationary and movable work-guiding scroll-sections, and means for supporting said movable scroll-section comprisslidably mounted in a guideway formed with a clearance opening, said clearance opening positioned to receive the carrierarm when the same is partially withdrawn from said guideway and turned about an axis to shift the movable scroll-section into a position where it is non-cooperative with the stationary scrollsection.

6. A work-guiding attachment for sewing machines comprising complemental stationary and movable work-guiding scroll-sections, means in cluding a carrier-arm for supporting said movable scroll-section, and a guideway in which said carrier-arm is slidably disposed, said guideway being inclined with respect to the direction of the normal path of feed of the material through the attachment.

7. A work-guiding attachment for sewing ma.- chines comprising complemental stationary and movable work-guiding scroll-sections, and a carrier-arm supporting said movable scroll-section and slidable in a guideway, said guideway being rier-arm is adapted formed in its bottom face with a clearance opening through which the carrier-arm is adapted to project when the same is partially withdrawn from said guideway and tilted vertically, thereby to separate said work-guiding scroll-sections to facilitate the completion of the sewing opera.- tion.

8. A work-guiding attachment'ior sewing machines comprising complemental stationary and movable work-guiding scroll-sections, a carrierarm supporting said movable scroll-section and slidable in a guideway, said guideway being formed with a clearance opening through which the carrier-arm is adapted to project when the same is 7 partially withdrawn from said guideway and tilted vertically, and a plate secured beneath said guideway and providing a stop adapted to be engaged by the end of said carrier-arm when the latter is tilted.

9. A work-guiding attachment for sewing machines comprising coinplemental stationary and movable work-guiding scroll-sections, a carrierarm supporting said movable scroll-section and slidable in a guideway,-said guideway being formed with a clearance opening through which the carto project when the same is partially withdrawn from said guideway and tilted vertically, a plate secured beneath said guideway and providing a stop adapted to be engaged by the end oi. said carrier-arm when the latter is tilted, and a spring for maintaining the 'carrier-arm in tilted position.

JAMES E. ACKERMAN. 

